Thrilling Finish: Guardians Overcome Yankees in 10-Inning Rally
In a dramatic 10th inning, the Cleveland Guardians staged a three-run rally, capped by Andrés Giménez’s sacrifice fly, to clinch an 8-7 victory over the New York Yankees, salvaging the finale of their three-game series.
Andrés Giménez delivered a sacrifice fly that sealed an exhilarating three-run rally in the 10th inning, leading the Cleveland Guardians to an 8-7 victory over the New York Yankees on Sunday. This win marked a dramatic end to their three-game series.
Trailing 7-5 in the 10th, the Guardians orchestrated their comeback against Caleb Ferguson (0-2) with a series of strategic plays, including a forceout, a fielder’s choice, and Giménez’s decisive sacrifice fly.
First-year Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt emphasized the team’s resilience, stating, “We’re not going to quit. And that’s one of the things I heard the boys yelling on the way back up to the clubhouse. We don’t quit and that’s what this group’s about.”
Despite leading with a score of 7-6 earlier in the 10th thanks to Anthony Rizzo’s two-run single, the Yankees, who had maintained a perfect record when scoring at least four runs, faced a reversal of fortunes.
The Guardians’ response in the 10th began with Josh Naylor’s grounder that scored his brother Bo Naylor. Following this, David Fry hit a double, and Will Brennan grounded a ball that Gleyber Torres of the Yankees mishandled, allowing Josh Naylor to tie the game at 7-7. Giménez then clinched the game with his fly to right, marking the Guardians’ second walk-off win of the week.
Despite the loss, the Yankees’ season record of 12-4 remains among their best starts. Yankees manager Aaron Boone reflected on the loss, acknowledging, “A tough one. We just didn’t make a few plays we needed to make. When you grind through and get a lead there, it’s always tough.”
Key moments for the Yankees included a three-run homer by Aaron Judge and homers from Jose Trevino and Anthony Volpe, whose ninth-inning RBI double initially tied the game.
Reflecting on the game’s intensity, Judge said, “Any way you lose is a tough one. Guys were fighting until the end. They came up with some big at-bats. We just weren’t able to pull this one out in the end.”
Amid the 10th-inning drama, an outstanding double play by Fry and Bo Naylor highlighted their defensive skills, with Vogt praising their athleticism and baseball IQ, suggesting it deserved top billing in sports highlights.
Additional contributions for Cleveland came from José Ramírez with a two-run homer and Gabriel Arias and Estevan Florial, who each added solo home runs. Florial’s homer against his former team, the Yankees, was especially poignant, prompting cheers from the Cleveland crowd.
Despite the late game excitement, Yankees closer Emmanuel Clase struggled to secure the win, yielding Volpe’s pivotal hit.
Judge’s earlier three-run homer, estimated at an impressive distance, set a strong pace for the Yankees, showcasing his power as he continues to lead the AL in walks.
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